The Sixers are searching for a star, and Bradley Beal would be a great fit. Could the LA Lakers though be the key to a deal for Beal?
It’s clear that the Sixers’ roster is not good enough to be a contender. Daryl Morey has been very vocal that the roster is not ready to compete, and he will do what it takes to fix that. Two of the biggest names, the Sixers, are supposedly targeting Damian Lillard and Bradley Beal, and as far as Beal is concerned, the Sixers’ odds may have just gone up.
Bradley Beal is apparently considering a trade request, according to Bleacher Report’s Jake Fischer. There are plenty of reasons why Beal could and should request a trade from Washington, but there is a more recent reason tied to Beal’s star teammate, Russell Westbrook.
The Los Angeles Lakers are in the market for a star point guard and one name, in particular, they’ve been targeting is Beal’s co-star Russell Westbrook. Now Westbrook makes absolutely no sense on the Lakers roster, but regardless, every Sixers fan should be begging for a deal to be made.
If Westbrook is dealt and the Wizards receive no other star in return (they won’t), then there’s virtually no chance that Beal sticks around.
If the Lakers push for Westbrook, that opens the door for a Bradley Beal deal, and the Sixers would instantly become one of the top teams in terms of competitive offers. The Boston Celtics, Dallas Mavericks, Golden State Warriors, and the Miami Heat are supposedly the other major players but other than Golden State, no other team has a competitive offer (assuming Boston won’t move Jaylen Brown).
Philadelphia’s best assets include Ben Simmons, Tyrese Maxey, Matisse Thybulle, Shake Milton, and three first-round picks. Not that Beal would cost all of that but any other team would be hard-pressed to outbid the Sixers. Even if the Wizards prefer picks over Simmons, teams like Cleveland and Toronto would likely be willing to take on Simmons in a deal involving the third or fourth pick in the draft, respectively.
All that needs to happen is for Beal to officially indicate that he wants out, and the Sixers could have their new star. While Beal may request a trade regardless of what happens with Westbrook, if the Lakers push hard for Westbrook, then Washington is effectually turning on the “open for business” sign.
